Paper-ejecting mechanism for printing machines



July 16, 1929. A. F.- WILLIAMS 1,720,934

PAPER EJECTING MECHANISM FOR PRI NTING' MACHINES Filed May 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l July.1 6, 1929. A. F. WILLIAMS 3 PAPER EJECTING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed May 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1929. A. F. WILLIAMS 1,720,984

I PAPER EJECTING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed May 10, 1928 s SheecS -Sheet s 7! 65 v s e3 ,64 4, 45 65 1 Patented duty 16, 1929.

UNtTED STATES (EFFIJZJlF..

AUGUST F. WILLIAMS, OF SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE.A1\EERICAN MUL- TIGRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PAPER-EJEGTING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING -MACHINES.

Application filed May 10,

This invention relates to mechanism for automatically discharging a printed product following the impression stroke. The invention is well adapted for embodiment in an addressing machine employing individual address plates and a manually operable platen.

My invention is of the same general type as that shown in an application of John A. Hult, No. 258,781., March 3rd, 1928, with claims dominating the present application. Both machines have a wheel carried by the platen arm and serving to engage the paper on the printing stroke of such arm and remain in engagement during a portion of the reverse strokeand during the latter period having a rotative movement to eject the printed work.

It is the object of my invention to improve the mechanism for automatically rotating the ejecting wheel, simplifying the construction and at the same time rendering it more efficient and durable. The means by which I accomplish this is hereinafter more fully explained in connection with the drawings, and the essential novel features are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan of an addressing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same, as indicated by the line 22 on Fig. 1, this view showing the platen arm in its normal or upstanding position; Fig. 3 is a sec- Y tional sideelevation of the platen arm and the mechanism which it carries, in printing position, this view being a vertical section on the line 33 on Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the ejecting mechanism itself; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the mechanism of Fig. i as indicated by the line 55 on Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a friction clutch shown on a smaller scale than Fig. 5, this view looking in the opposite direction to Fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, 10 indicates the bed or frame of a flat-bed addressing machine. Extending transversely across this frame is a channel 11 along which the address plate may travel from a magazine 12 to printing position, after which it is discharged at the left hand side of the machine.

A manually operated impression arm is shown in the drawings as pivoted to the bed 1928. Serial No. 276,567.

at 21 adjacent the rear end of the arm, while at the forward end is an operating handle 22, and a short distance behind the handle is a platen 3O adj ustably carried by the arm in the usual manner. The impression arm 20 is normally maintainedelevated, as shownin Fig. 2, by a suitable spring or springs 25 attached to rear extensions of the arm. The rear extension 26 is connected by a suitable system of linkage 27 with a reciprocating slide 28 in the channel 11. 7

As the arm 20 is depressed to effect the printing. by means of a plate directly below the platen 30, the slide 28 is carried toward the right so that the bottom-most address plate A, Figs. 1 and 2, may drop from the magazine 12 onto the slide in front of a shoulder thereon; then as the platen moves upwardly, the linkage mechanism described moves the slide toward the left carrying the bottom-most plate from the magazine into position immediately at the left thereof. The same movement carries the plate which has just been printed from the platen into a receptacle 29 at the extreme left of the ma chine, and at the same time carries an intermediate plate which was standing at the left of the magazine into printing position beneath the platen.

As usual with addressing machines of the type so far described, the envelope or card to be addressed is placed by hand beneath the platen while it is elevated, such card or envelope being positioned, if desired, by engaging one or both of the guides 15 and 16 shown in Fig. 1. The mechanism of the present invention acts automatically following the printing to eject the card or envelope toward the front. This mechanism will now be described.

As shown in the drawings, I have secured to the top of the platen arm 20 a bracket 10 having a transverse web resting on top of the arm, and at each side of the arm substantially upright tubular housings 41. Slidably mounted in the respective housings are upright rods having portions 51 of reduced diameter, extending out of the upper ends of the housings. Compression springs 54. within the housings tend to force the rods downwardly. The rods are connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 55 which has eyes embracing and secured to the projecting portions of the rods, and thus forming a stop limiting the downward movement. I have shown the rod extensions 51 threaded into the cross bar eyes and amb nuts 56. This enables adjustment in the installation of the parts but in operation the connection is rigid.

Rotatively mounted in the lower portions of the rods is a horizontal shaft 60. Rigidly secured to this shaft are a pair of rubber faced wheels 61 and-62. As shown, each wheel comprises a metal hub 63 embracing the shaft and having a flange 6% at one end. Mounted on the hub is acollar 65 also having a flange. Clamped between these flanges is a rubber disk, which provides the engaging portion of the wheel. I have shown a single set screw 68 as furnishing means for locking the collar 65 on the hub 63 and also locking the whole wheel to the shaft.

It will be seen that the construction providesa rotatable shaft with two wheels hav ing rubber peripheries. These wheels are adapted, as hereinafter described, to engage the paper as shown at B in Fig. 3 and be rotated in the direction of the arrow of that figure to eject such paper.

To effect the proper rotation of the ejecting wheels on the upstroke of the platen, I provide a sprocket wheel 70 journalled on the rod 55 and a sprocket wheel 71 journalled on the shaft 60 and an endless sprocket chain 72 connecting these wheels, the sprocket wheel 71 having a ratchet connection with the shaft 60. I replace some of the links of the chain by a tension spring 73 serving to maintain the chain constantly taut while allowing easy movement.

I find it convenient to make the ratchet connection by providing a hollow hub 74 on the sprocket wheel 71, which surrounds a collar 75 rigid on the shaft 60. The interior of the hollow hub 74. is provided with recesses 77 in which are rollers 78. One wall of the recess 77 is substantially radial, while the other is approximately tangent to the periphery of the collar 74. The result is that when the sprocket wheel 71 is turned in a direction to cause the radial face of the recess to shove the rollers, such rotation is independent of the collar 75 and shaft 60, whereas when the sprocket wheel rotates in the opposite direction the nearly tangential face of the recess binds the roller on the collar and rotates the shaft.

The device above described is a frictional ratchet construction of usual form. The

ratchet is faced in such direction that it drives the shaft 60 and rubber wheels when the forward reach of the chain is moved upwardly but is idle when this reach moves downwardly. The idle movement of the chain occurs on the downward movement of the platen arm in effecting the impression. The active movement occurs during the first portion of the upward movement of the platen arm while the wheels are still in en gagement with the paper, as will now be explained.

As the platen arm is lowered to print the article, the wheels 61 and 62 come into engageinent with the envelope or other paper indicated at B in Fig. 3, before the platen engages the paper. As this downward movement of the arm continues, the housings ll move downwardly relative to the rods 50, and the pulley 70. The forward reach of the chain 72 is anchored to the platen arm by means of a plate 80 secured to the arm and having a tongue 81 extending through an opening in one of the chain links. Accordingly, when the descent of the pulley 70 is stopped the further movement of the platen arm pulls down on the front reach of the chain and hence up on the rear reach. This however merely rotates the pulley 71 in the idledirection. Accordingly, the parts come into the position shown in Fig. 3 to effect the printing without any action of the rollers 60 and 61 on the envelope.

Now, on the upstroke of the platen arm 20, the springs 5st maintain the rollers 61 and 62 in engagement with the envelope for the first portion of such upstroke, the springs extending to their limit as the housings rise. This movement carries the anchorage S1 of the forward reach of the chain upwardly, and hence rotates the sprocket wheel 71 in a corresponding direction. lVhen rotated in this direction, the sprocket wheel grips the shaft 60 and accordingly the two wheels 61 and 62 are rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3.

It will be seen therefore, that by the simple mechanism described, no action, results on the paper being printed on the downward stroke of the platen and the paper remains wherever it has been placed by the operator. However, on the upstroke after the platen has cleared the paper, the rubber wheels act automatically to discharge the envelope toward the front of the machine.

My ejecting mechanism is very simple in construction, compact and self-contained, so that it may be readily attached as a unit to impression arms of existing addressing machines. The ejecting rollers remain in contact with the addressed envelope for a suliicient time, and have a sufi'icient rotative movement, to discharge the envelope over the front of the machine earlyin the upstroke of the platen arm. This discharge is accomplished without in any way mutilating or marking the envelope. r

I claim M 1. The combination with a movable printing member, of a paper ejecting device carried thereby, comprising a wheel adapted tobe brought by the printing stroke into engagement witn the paper,therebeing provision for relative movement between the wheel axis and the printing member, and a sprocket chain operated by such relative movement and engaging a sprocket wheel adapted to be connected with the wheel which engages the paper.

2. The combinationof an impression arm, a platen carried thereby, a floating frame carried by the impression arm, a pair of sprocket wheels carried by the floating frame, a sprocket chain connecting said wheels, means for anchoring the chain to the platen arm, and a wheel adapted to engage the paper and adapted to be rotated by the sprocket chain.

3. The combination with an impression arm and a platen carried thereby, a paper-engaging wheel carried by the platen arm in such manner as to be bodily shiftable as well as rotatable thereon, a sprocket wheel connected by a ratchet with the paper engaging wheel, an idle sprocket wheel bodily shiftable with reference to the platen, a sprocket chain connecting two sprocket wheels, and an an choring device carried by the platen arm and engaging the sprocket chain.

4. The combination of an impression arm, a floating frame carried thereby, and spring pressed downwardly, a shaft carried near the lower end of the frame and a rod near the upper end, a paper engaging wheel on the shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft having a ratchet connection therewith, asprocket wheel on said rod, an endless sprocket chain extending about said two Wheels, and an anchoring device carried by the impression arm engaging the sprocket chain.

5. The combination of an impression arm, tubular housings on opposite sides of the arm, upright rods slidably mounted in the tubular housings, springs within the housings pressing the rods downwardly, a shaft carried by. the lower ends of the rods, a paper engaging wheel on said shaft, a cross rod connecting saidupright rods, and a flexible member connecting the cross rod with a ratchet device adapted to be coupled wit-h the shaft.

6. The combination of an impression arm, a transverse bracket carried thereby and having at its ends tubular housings on opposite sides of the arm, upright rods slidably mounted in the tubular housings, springs within the housings pressing the rods downwardly, a

shaft carried by the lower ends of the rods, a

paper engaging wheel on said shaft, 2- rod connecting the upper ends of said upright rods above the housings, and a flexible member connecting the cross rod with a ratchet device on the shaft.

7. The combination of an impression arm, a bracket carried thereby and having upright tubular housings on opposite sides of the arm, a pair of rods slidably mounted in the h0usings, springs within the housings pressing the rod downwardly, a shaft mounted on the rods near their lower ends, wheels having rubber tread tight on said shaft, a sprocket wheel on said shaft having a ratchet connection therewith, a cross rod connecting the upright rods above the housings, a sprocket wheel on the cross rod, and a sprocket chain looped about both sprocket wheels and anchored to the impression arm.

8. The combination of an impression arm, a floating frame carried by the impression arm, a pair of sprocket wheels carried by the floating frame, a sprocket chain connecting said wheels, means for anchoring the chain to the platen arm, means for taking up the slack in the sprocket chain, and a wheel carried by the floating frame and adapted to engage the paper and adapted to be rotated by the sprocket chain.

9. The combination of an impression arm, a pair of tubular housings carried thereby, rods slidably mounted in the housings and having reduced upper portions extending out of the upper ends of the housings, compression springs within the housings surrounding such reduced portions of the rods, a cross rod secured to the reduced extensions above the housings, a shaft carried by the lower portions of the rods, a paper engaging wheel on the shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft having a ratchet connection therewith, a sprocket wheel on said rod, and a sprocket chain looped about said two sprocket wheels, and an anchoring device carried by the impression arm engaging the sprocket chain.

10. The combination of an impression arm, a bracket carried thereby, a pair of rods slidably mounted in the bracket, spring means pressing the rods downwardly, a shaft mounted in the rods near their lower ends, a paper engaging wheel on said shaft, a sprocket wheel on said shaft having a ratchet connection therewith, a cross rod connecting the upright. rods. a sprocket wheel on the cross rod, a sprocket chain looped about both sprocket wheels and anchored to the impression arm, and means for maintaining the sprocket chain taut.

11. The combination witha movable printing member, of a paper ejecting device carried thereby comprising a shaft. mounted on a floating frame, the paper engaging wheel mounted on the shaft and ratchet mechanism 1 for turning the shaft following the printing stroke, said wheel comprising a hub rigid on the shaft and having a flange, a collar mounted on the hub and having a flange, and a rubber disk clamped between said flanges.

12. The combination with an impression arm, of a platen carried thereby, of a floating frame carried by the impression arm, a shaft rotatably mounted in the floating frame, a pair of wheels tight on the shaft, a sprocket wheel on the shaft, a frictional ratchet clutch between the sprocket wheel and shaft, and a sprocket chain anchored to the platen arm and embracing the sprocket wheel, said friction clutch comprising asleeve on the side of the sprocket Wheel surrounding the shaft, and rollers occupying recesses in the interior of said sleeve and adapted to coact with the exterior of a surface rigid with the shaft.

13. The combination with a movable printing member, of a paper ejecting device carried thereby, comprising a wheel adapted to be brought by the printing stroke into engagement with the paper, there being provision for relative movement between the wheel axis and the printing member, and a flexible member pulled by such relative movement and including a spring maintaining the flexible member taut.

14. The combination of an impression arm, 15

sion spring replacing some of the links of 20 said chain, means for anchoring the chain to the platen arm, and a wheel adapted to engage the paper and adapted to be rotated by the sprocket chain.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my 25 signature.

AUGUST F. IVILLIAMS. 

